Former health advisor to Prime Minister Dr Syed Modasser Ali has said that Kazi Shahid Ahmed was an artist who could show dreams to the people and also execute them.
Kazi Shahid Ahmed, the founder and chairman of Gemcon Group, and editor of the Daily Ajker Kagoj breathed his last on August 28. The renowned entrepreneur was laid to eternal rest at Banani Graveyard.
Dr Modasser said Kazi Shahid Ahmed was the light that enlightened thousands.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a program organized by the Kazi Shahid Ahmed Memorial Council at Jessore Shilpakala Academy on Monday.
Remembering his contribution to different sectors, Modasser Ali said: “He was a hero. In the light of his actions, countless people have been guided to the right path. He spread light in various sectors to build Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla.”
Addressing the event as the keynote speaker, historian Dr Muntassir Mamoon said: “Kazi Shahid Ahmed was a patriotic person. He loved the country and its soil. That is why he has provided employment to thousands of people. He stayed by the people according to his ability. No one was disappointed by him. He was a bold entrepreneur. He never shied away from taking risks. He was a person who liked art and culture and played a great role in changing society. He will remain a hero through his work.”
Kazi Shahid Ahmed's childhood friend Freedom Fighter Amirul Islam Rontu presided over the discussion, where former director of Bangladesh Cricket Board Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Kazi Shahid Ahmed's sons Kazi Nabil Ahmed and Kazi Anis Ahmed also spoke.
Jessore Deputy Commissioner Abraul Hasan Majumder and Superintendent of Police Proloy Kumar Joarder, among others, also shed lights on the life of Kazi Shahid Ahmed at the event.
Other family members including Kazi Shahid Ahmed’s wife Kazi Ameenah Ahmed, younger son Kazi Inam Ahmed and daughter-in-law Dr Maliha Mannan Ahmed attended the event.
The event concluded with a documentary on the life of Kazi Shahid Ahmed.
Born in 1940 in Jessore, his legacy is etched in his multifaceted contributions to various fields.
As the founder and chairman of the Gemcon Group, Kazi Shahid Ahmed left an indelible mark on the business landscape.
His innovative spirit was not limited to entrepreneurship, for he also pioneered the establishment of Bangladesh's first-ever organic tea estate. Committed to education and philanthropy, he founded the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and the Kazi Shahid Foundation.
Throughout his life, Kazi Shahid Ahmed was synonymous with innovation. He continually surprised the nation with new initiatives, spanning newspapers, businesses, and educational institutions.
A graduate in engineering and a former officer in the Bangladesh Army, he played a crucial role in founding the Bangladesh Military Academy.
His entrepreneurial journey began in 1979 with the establishment of the Gemcon Group. He was also the driving spirit behind such esteemed dailies as Khoborer Kagoj and Ajker Kagoj. Notably, Ajker Kagoj ushered in a new era of modernity in Bangladeshi newspapers, championing free expression and embodying the spirit of the Liberation War. Kagoj, the weekend magazine of the newspaper, was noted for the richness of its columns contributed by eminent writers of the country.
Kazi Shahid Ahmed's literary contributions were equally significant. His inaugural book was published in 1995, followed by "Amar Lekha" and "Ghore Agun Legechhe" in the same year.